Volume One, Chapter 16: Did I Just Sign a Divorce Agreement?

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Sega Media was shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere all day. From the moment Lu Jinchuan stepped onto the tiled floor of the twenty-eighth floor in the morning, no one was untouched by his fury. Even the goldfish in the aquarium and the money tree by the corridor were not spared.

"Xiao Wen, what's going on with President Lu today?"

"Don't ask me, I don't know anything."

"You've been looking at this document for three hours. Haven't you taken it to President Lu for his signature yet?"

"Heh, you don't know—this morning when I went to deliver the document, President Lu pointed at a comma inside and asked why it wasn't a period. He told me to go back and study the correct use of punctuation before bringing it back for his signature."

"Xiao Wen, that’s nothing. Earlier, when Manager Ye from the design department came up to report, he was scolded with a finger pointed right at his nose."

"That bad? What happened?"

"President Lu said that today’s dark green tie worn by Manager Ye made him doubt the design department leader’s aesthetic sense."

"...The wretched cows and horses and the wicked capitalists, I hate it!"

Xiao Wen peeked at the tightly closed meeting room door and sighed quietly.

"Why hasn’t the negotiation been settled yet? The cooperation partner was practically confirmed, just needed to sign the papers. It’s been almost two hours."

"I don’t know. Could it be that President Lu is even going after the partner?"

Inside the meeting room, Roger loosened his tie for the fifth time.

—‘Lu Jinchuan, I give up, I let you have it.’

Lu Jinchuan leaned back on the sofa, legs crossed. Though his lips curved slightly upwards, no trace of a smile could be seen. "Is this the sincerity of your company?"

Roger had no idea what was wrong with President Lu. The cooperation between Sega and this company had been settled a week ago, only the final signatures and seals were left. Such a procedure normally did not require President Lu’s personal presence; it could be delegated to subordinates.

Who would have expected that as soon as the other party arrived, President Lu personally appeared, startling them all, including Roger.

Could it be that President Lu wanted them to raise their offer?

The man across from him was dressed sharply in a suit and tie. Upon hearing Lu Jinchuan’s words, a flicker of panic crossed his face before he quickly masked it. "President Lu, this is already our company’s utmost sincerity. As you know, our company is a long-established enterprise in Beicheng. Before Sega, many media companies wanted to cooperate with us."

The man cleared his throat and flipped the project proposal to the signature page, pushing it forward. "Of course, Sega’s strength is also well recognized. We are very eager to cooperate with your company. This price is our best offer. We hope you understand, President Lu."

The meeting room fell into a deadlock.

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Lu Jinchuan’s gaze was deep, as if pondering the feasibility.

—‘There is no affection between him and me.’

He stared at the blank signature line as if the pen he was about to wield was not to sign a project agreement but a divorce decree.

"In that case, it is regrettable that this cooperation cannot continue."

With that, Lu Jinchuan rose without hesitation and headed toward the door.

Roger’s eyes widened instantly.

What’s going on?

Just... just like that?

President Lu had only said two sentences since he came in.

The man across immediately stood, his face betraying panic. "President Lu, please wait, don’t rush to leave. We can still negotiate. I’ll call my company right now; please give me three minutes. Thank you."

He grabbed his phone and left the meeting room.

Moments later, he returned, bowing slightly to Lu Jinchuan. "President Lu, we truly want to cooperate with Sega. I just reapplied to my company. To show our sincerity, please consider this revised figure."

The man typed a number on his phone calculator and extended it to Lu Jinchuan.

Roger nearly stomped the ground excitedly and performed a Thomas spin on the spot upon seeing the figure.

He just wanted to give President Lu a thumbs-up!

He knew that President Lu’s move was a strategic feint.

As expected of President Lu, with only two simple sentences, he got them to raise the offer by several points.

In Roger’s mind, Lu Jinchuan’s image grew taller and grander. He silently vowed to work harder to become an excellent executive assistant, so as not to embarrass President Lu.

This cooperation was ultimately perfected with Lu Jinchuan’s nod.

After escorting the partner to the elevator, Roger returned to the president’s office, beaming.

Praise spilled out the moment he entered. "President Lu, you are incredible. You saw through their hidden card and got them to concede with just two sentences. Truly impressive! But next time, could you please inform me in advance? I..."

Roger’s words abruptly stopped when he saw Lu Jinchuan’s expression.

Lu Jinchuan’s brows didn’t move; he sat silently, showing no hint of joy.

"Roger, find the project proposal for the Selton Hotel for me."

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"Ah? Didn’t you say we wouldn’t take the Selton project? It’s almost year-end, and the design department..."

The instant Lu Jinchuan’s gaze swept over him, Roger quickly corrected himself, "...The design department is confident they can complete it and end this year’s performance perfectly. I’ll get the proposal right away."

The office door closed tightly.

Lu Jinchuan raised a hand to rub his tightly furrowed brows.

In the past three years, he had negotiated countless times, yet this was the first time he had been distracted during a negotiation—because of Ji Shu.

...

At the hospital.

Shortly after Lu Jinchuan left, Gao Xia also arrived.

After completing the discharge procedures, Ji Shu got into Gao Xia’s car and returned to the Jade Imperial Residence.

Fortunately, since it was Saturday and she didn’t have to work, she found some ingredients in the fridge and made a bowl of noodles. Just as she finished eating and was about to start sketching, she received a call from Grandfather Lu.

"Child, do you remember what I said?"

Ji Shu was momentarily taken aback. The old man was reminding her that starting tomorrow, they were moving back to the Lu mansion, fearing she might forget.

"I remember, Grandfather."

"Good. Tomorrow I’ll have Uncle Liu help you move. It’s inconvenient for a young lady to move by herself."

"No need, Grandfather. I don’t have much stuff. No need to trouble Uncle Liu," Ji Shu quickly refused.

"Alright then. I’ve had the butler register your license plate. If it weren’t for Uncle Liu telling me, I wouldn’t have known you had to walk in every time you came home. Next time, if you encounter such things, be sure to tell Grandfather, okay?"

Ji Shu’s eyes stung, and she swallowed the lump in her throat. "Thank you, Grandfather."

"My silly child, you don’t need to be so formal with Grandfather. Now, rest early tonight."

After the call ended, Ji Shu had to put aside her sketches and start packing the items she would need for moving back to the Lu mansion.

The Jade Imperial Residence was the marital home that the Lu family had bought for her and Lu Jinchuan. After their marriage registration, Ji Shu had lived there continuously, while she had never once returned to live at the Lu mansion.

Grandfather Lu’s insistence on their moving back was something she dared not refuse, though she wondered what expression Jiang Suqing would wear when she found out about the news.